Compare towns
Worcester vs Bolton vs Williston vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Bolton has the youngest population (median age 36.3).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Worcester | Bolton | Williston | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,163 |
10,144Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Worcester and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±4 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
| Bolton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$311,600±$42k about the VT average |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,826 4% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.6% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.